If you have wanted to learn more about African mountain gorillas in their natural setting, then you are invited to follow the adventures of two experienced travelers to Africa when they speak at the Monday evening, March 9 meeting of the Arcadia Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Joanna Liang and Kathy Symons in Uganda
Travel partners Kathy Symons, retired professor of Art History at Rio Hondo College, and Joanna Liang, past president of the Arcadia Chinese Association (ACA), enjoy exotic adventure travels to Africa and are pleased to share their September 2014 gorilla experiences in Rwanda and Uganda with others.
The March 9 meeting of the Arcadia Branch will take place at the Church of the Good Shepherd’s Jordan Hall, 400 W. Duarte Road (SW corner of Duarte Rd. and Holly Ave.), Arcadia. Socializing begins at 6:30 p.m. with the travelers’ power-point presentation to follow at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to this free program. This is a good opportunity to hear first-hand about the forces that are depleting the wild gorilla population and what conservationists in Africa are doing to protect the endangered species.
An underlying inspiration for this East Africa trip was primatologist Dian Fossey’s 1983 book “Gorillas in the Mist.” Symons had wanted to fulfill a life-long dream of seeing gorillas in the wild for herself. Liang agreed with the plan, so off they went to Virunga National Park in Rwanda and Uganda to follow in Dian Fossey’s footsteps. Symons will tell about trekking up a steep mountain side to see the gorillas with two porters helping her and almost carrying her at times! Liang will relate how surprised she was to see that the city streets in Rwanda and Uganda were clean and neat with lovely landscaping. Both women enjoyed visiting local people in their villages and learning about their history and culture.
For information about membership in the American Association of University Women (AAUW), please call Tamara Kato at (626) 375-6756 or Patricia Dietrich at (626) 446-8437, Membership in the organization is open to all women and men holding a university or college degree, as well as those with an Associate of Arts degree or its equivalent.